Cutting implement.



No. 874,516. PATENTED DEG. 24, 1907.

A. A. Low. CUTTING IMPL'EVMENT.

APPLIUATION'FILED MAY 4, 1907.

ABBOT AUGUSTUS LOW, OF HORSESHOE, NF-W YORK.

CUTTINGLIMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 190'?.

Application iled May 4| 1907. Serial No. 371.783.

To all whomAiQ/maypconcern:

Be it known that I, ABBOT AUGUSTUS LOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Horseshoe, St. Lawrence county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cutting Im lements, of which the following is a speci ication.

My improvements relate to cutting implements designed to be carried upon the person to be used in emergency for severing iiower stems, cord, and other things relatively small in cross section,-the object being to aord an implement that may be safely carried in the pocket or mani ulated without danger or inconvenience' to the user.-

The invention consists in the construction andv arrangement of parts hereinafter de scribed and claimed specifically, distinguishing features being the formation of the pressure guard with a cutting edge on its inner side opposed to the rigid knife blade; the pivoting of the pressure guard upon a fulcrum mounted upon a flat metal spring counter-sunk in the shank of the knife blade whereby said guard may be readily removed, when desired, and the counter-sinking of the rear arm of the pressure guard and its retractile spring in said shank so as to afford a smooth unobstructed handle when the parts are in their normal positions.

In Vthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a side elevation of my improved im lement; Fig. 2, an edge view of the same; Ilig. 3, a sectional elevation; Fig. 4, a partial section upon plane of line 4--4- Fig. 1 Fig. 5, a front end view of the implement Fig. '6, a transverse section uponplane of line 6 6- Fig. -1 Fig. 7 a transverse section upon plane of line 7 7- Fig. 1 Fig. 8, a sectional elevation showing a modication in the lform of the ressure guard; Fig. 9, shows another modification thereof. p

The lmife blade k, and its shank or handle 7c', are integral, the rear portion of the shank being formed with a hole k2, by which the implement may be sus ended upon a cord, hook or the like, when esired.

The pressure guard g, is pivotally connected with the shank by means of a fulcrum f,

formed integral with a flat spring f', coun? tersunk in the recess k3, formed for its rece tion in one side of the shank, as will be clear y Vunderstood by reference to Figs. l and 6.

The rear arm' g', of the pressure guard g, and the iiange g2, by which it is pivoted to the shank 7c', are'also countersunk in a suitably formed recess le, in the shank, as is also the spring n, which bears against the rear arm g', and tends constantly to hold the pressure guard g, in its normal position. The inner or underside of the pressure guard g, is formed with a longitudinal auxiliary cutting edge g3, o posed to the cutting edge of the knife b ade k, as will be seen more particularly by reference to Fig. 5. This auxiliary cutting edge g3, aids materially in holding the object to be cut against the main knife blade lc, as well as performing its part in severing the article. Being formed to slip over or past the cutting edge of the stationary blade ZC, this movable cutter g3 also insures the complete severance of the article laced between the cutting edges whenever t e guard g, is fully depressed by the thumb of the user. This is especially the case in the modification shown in Fig. 8, in which the cutting edge g3, is inclined with relation to the stationary blade lc, so that a V-shaped opening is created between the cutting edges when in their normal positions with relation to each other resulting in the meeting of the cutting edges when the pressure guard is depressed even at their extreme inner ends.

The im lement thus constructed is essentially a siearing implement, in which the movable cutter is opened 0r returned automatically to its normal position by the retractile spring n. By the pressure of the thumb upon the iiat outer surface of the guard g, the device may thus be quickly and conveniently applied to various uses with absolute safety to the user. On the other hand if it is desired to use the cutting blade lc, alone as a knife blade, unobstructed by the presence of the guard g, the latter may be readily unshipped and removed by pressing outward the spring f', and fulcrum f. This method of attachment also affords a convenient means whereby access may be had to both cutting edges for the purpose of shar ening the same.

T e cutting edge g3, of the guard g, may be formed with a concave ortion g4, if desired to hold a iiower stem or t e like while pressed against the knife edge 7c; and the end of said guard may also be hook shaped, as shown in Fig. 8, facilitating the selectlng and drawing forward of flowers, stems &c.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In an implement of the character designated, the combination of a rigid knife blade and shank formed integral therewith, of a pivoted pressure guard formed on its inner side with a cutting edge opposed to the knife blade, for the purpose described.

2. In an implement of the character designated, the combination of a rigid knife ade and shank formed integraltherewith, av

pressure guard opposed to the knife blade and piyoted to the shank thereof by a ful crum mounted upony a flat spring, fzcrthepurpose described- 3. Iny an implement of the character desi 11a-ted, the combination of a'` rigid` knife lade andshank formed integral therewith, a pressure guard opposed. tothe knife blade and pivoted tothe shank thereof by a: fulcrum mountedupon a flat spring, said spring and fulcrum being countersunk in` the shank substantially in the manner'and for the purpose described.

4. In an implement ofthe character desgnated, the combinationof a rigid knife ade and shank formed integral therewith,ae ivoted pressure guard opposed to the knife' E wit-h a rear arm, andV a.

rable and a pressure uard pivotally attached to the shank and ormed with a cutting edge opposed to the knife edge and inclined with relation thereto, substantially in the manner and' for the urpose described.

6. In an implement of the character des ignated, the combination of a rigid knife blade andshank formed integral therewith, a pivoted pressure guard opposed to said knife lade and formed with a rear arm, a spring bearing against said rear arm, said spring and rear arm being countersunk in the shank of the knife-blade, and a spring'fulcrum coun t'ersunk in said shank and. couplingthe-parts together, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

7. In an implement of the character desilignated, the combination of a rigid knife ade andl shank formed integral therewith and a pressure guard oppose to the knife blade and pivoted tothe shank thereof and formed with-r a hook at its outer end, for the purpose described.

8. In anl implement of the character des.- i nated, the combination of a rigid knife b ade and shank formed inte ral therewith and a pressurev guard opposedl to the knife blade and pivotedto the shank thereof, and:

formed-iwi a. concave cuttingedge near its outer end for the purpose described.

ABBOT AUGUSTUS LOW. Witnesses:

Giro. WM; Mmrr, D. W. GARDNER. 

